Arkansas Tech University's Aaron Sarna and Evan Barnes hauled in five fish that weighed 16.96 to claim second place Friday after the first day of the seventh annual ATU Invitational. Weigh-in begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lake Dardanelle State Park's fishing pavilion. (THE COURIER / Submitted, Christy Austin)

Lake Dardanelle hasn’t always been forgiving to the Arkansas Tech University Fishing Team. Some local anglers enjoy success, while others hope for the best on day two.

That’s the case after day one of the seventh ATU Invitational on Lake Dardanelle. Aaron Sarna and Evan Barnes hauled in five fish that weighed 16.96 to claim second place Friday at the Lake Dardanelle State Park fishing pavilion, 6.65 pounds ahead of Louisiana-Monroe’s Paul Clark and Brett Preuett (10.31).

"We had a great week of practice. Today was unlucky Friday the 13th, and it definitely took a toll on us," Barnes said.

"Through all of our mistakes we bared down and never quit. Determination was our strategy," Sarna added.

Travis Harriman of the University of Arkansas didn’t seem to have any troubles. The Razorback caught five fish that tipped the scales at 17.19 pounds to lead the field of 22 teams.

ATU’s Adam Zimmerman and Dylan Penzo are in fourth place with five fish that weighed 10.25 pounds. The rest of the top 10 has Oklahoma State’s Tyler Dennis in fifth (8.76), Arkansas’ Jared Berkshire in sixth (8.00), Oklahoma State’s Zack Birge and Blake Flurry in seventh (6.46), Arkansas’ Paul Lafleur and Drew Porto in eighth (5.88), Louisiana Monroe’s Blake Deron and Jackson in ninth (4.28), and Arkansas-Monticello’s Cody Clemons and Hunter Bush in 10th (4.13).

Arkansas Tech’s Jake Jacobs and Nathan Cathcart are in 11th after catching only two fish that weighed 3.19 pounds. Right behind in 12th place is the ATU team of Evan Smith and Reagan Moore, who also caught two fish that weighed just 2.17 pounds. Arkansas Tech’s teams of Matt and Kristin Manos, Clayton Schuh and Wil Hafner, and Deerick Smith and Brandon Martin came up empty-handed with no fish Friday, but said they hope to have a better day today, when the tournament concludes with the weigh-in at 2 p.m.

Check out more photos from day one of the ATU Invitational on The Courier’s Facebook 479 Sports page.

7th ATU Invitational Standings, Day 1

1. University of Arkansas, Travis Harriman, 7.19 (5.38 big bass)

2. ATU, Aaron Sarna and Evan Barnes, 16.96

3. Louisiana-Monroe, Paul Clark and Brett Preuett, 10.31

4. ATU, Adam Zimmerman and Dylan Penzo, 10.25

5. Oklahoma State, Tyler Dennis, 8.76

6. University of Arkansas, Jared Berkshire, 8.00

7. Oklahoma State, Zack Birge and Blake Flurry, 6.46

8. University of Arkansas, Paul Lafleur and Drew Porto, 5.88

9. Louisiana-Monroe, Blake Deron and Jackson, 4.28

10. University of Arkansas-Monticello, Cody Clemons and Hunter Bush, 4.13